Saturday night on my drive home from church, I got stuck in the post-game traffic headed south. So my 25-30 minute drive got extended into an hour long crawl. Normally this would irritate me, particularly after a long day at church to be followed by yet another long morning. However, on WV Public Radio, it's pledge time. And while I know that's not generally seen as a good thing, it usually means that they bring their A-list programming. Mountain Stage is a favorite to listen to around here anyway, but because it's pledge week, they were playing a "best of" program and it was really fantastic. Got to hear a lot of great music, but one song in particular stood out to me. It was "Leaves Don't Drop, They Just Let Go" by Carrie Newcomer.
The truth I learned when I was eight.
My dad swam the length of Spirit Lake.
It must have been a million miles.
This I knew was true.
My mother sang while hangin' clothes.
Her notes weren't perfect heaven knows.
But heaven opened anyway.
And this I knew was true.
My dad swam the length of Spirit Lake.
It must have been a million miles.
This I knew was true.
My mother sang while hangin' clothes.
Her notes weren't perfect heaven knows.
But heaven opened anyway.
And this I knew was true.
Leaves don't drop they just let go,
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
I left her with some groceries,
Said, "Check the oil and call me please.”
She said " Hey, ma I'll be just fine."
This I knew was true.
Said, "Check the oil and call me please.”
She said " Hey, ma I'll be just fine."
This I knew was true.
Leaves don't drop they just let go,
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
I've traveled through my history,
From certainty to mystery.
God speaks in rhyme in paradox.
This I know is true.
And finally when life is through,
I'm what I am not just what I do.
It comes down to you and your next breath,
And this I know is true.
Leaves don't drop they just let go,
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
And make a space for seeds to grow.
Every season brings a change,
A tree is what a seed contains,
To die and live is life's refrain.
One of the things I love about living here in WV is that we get such vivid seasons, particularly fall. The drive home from church yesterday was absolutely stunning. For about three weeks a year, we get an absolutely spectacular panorama of color on the mountains here. Everything is ablaze with yellows and reds and oranges. I also love this season (and this song!) because it reminds me that all living things need rest so that they can move to the next stage. In those quiet, sometimes even barren times, new life is germinating. I know that personally, I can get frustrated in those dormant times in my life, when I feel like I'm just on hold. However, used wisely, those times can prepare for growth.
There are many different seasons to our lives. Let's take the time to enjoy each one of them!
